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Abstract:

In one embodiment, a solar insulation displacement connector (IDC) is
described. The example solar IDC includes a base configured with at least
one pathway. The pathway may include a plurality of ridges. At least one
pathway is configured with at least one conductive cutter. The conductive
cutter is formed from a conductive material (e.g., copper, silver, gold,
nickel, brass). The example solar IDC includes a cover configured to hold
a wire in the at least one pathway when the cover is affixed to the base
of the solar IDC. The solar IDC is configured to be mechanically
connected to a conductor of the wire by the at least one conductive
cutter. The at least one conductive cutter is configured to cut an
insulation of the wire. An inverter is operably connected to the solar
IDC. The example solar IDC and the inverter are fabricated as a unit.

Claims:

1. An apparatus, comprising: an insulation displacement connector (IDC)
having a base configured with at least one pathway, where the at least
one pathway is configured with at least one conductive cutter, and an IDC
cover configured to hold a wire in the at least one pathway when the IDC
cover is affixed to the base; where the IDC is configured to be
mechanically connected to a conductor of the wire by at least one
conductive cutter, where the at least one conductive cutter is configured
to cut an insulation of the wire; and an inverter operably connected to
the IDC, where the IDC and the inverter are fabricated as a unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, where the wire comprises the conductor of
the wire surrounded by the insulation of the wire.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, where the base is configured with base
cutouts that permit entrance and exit of the wire; where the base cutouts
have grommets; and where the grommets are configured to environmentally
seal the IDC.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, where the IDC cover is configured with
pressure protrusions, where the pressure protrusions are configured to
hold the wire in the at least one pathway.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, where the IDC cover is configured with cover
cutouts that correspond to the base cutouts, providing clearance for the
wire through the IDC when the IDC cover is affixed to the base.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, where the base of the IDC further comprises:
a plurality of ridges in the at least one pathway, where area between the
ridges is comprised of openings, and where the IDC is affixed to the
inverter to allow the at least one conductive cutter access to the
interior of the inverter and the interior of the IDC.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, where a cutter is affixed to the inverter
and passes through the openings and into the pathway of the IDC.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, where the size of the pathways and
conductive cutters is determined by a characteristic of the wire.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, where the IDC cover is affixed to the base
with a flexible sealing agent to environmentally seal the IDC.

10. An insulation displacement connector (IDC) apparatus, comprising: a
plurality of conductive cutters, where a conductive cutter is configured
to displace the insulation of at least one wire and make contact with a
conductor of the at least one wire, and where the conductive cutter is
configured to be a terminal to operably connect the conductor of the at
least one wire with an inverter, and a plurality of pathways, where a
pathway is configured with at least one conductive cutter of the
plurality of conductive cutters, and where a pathway is configured to
accommodate at least on wire; the IDC apparatus being configured to be
constructed with the inverter as a single unit.

11. The IDC apparatus of claim 10, where a pathway of the plurality of
pathways is configured with at least two conductive cutters.

12. The IDC apparatus of claim 10, where the plurality of conductive
cutters are wired to the inverter.

13. The IDC apparatus of claim 10, comprising: a first pathway having a
first conductive cutter as a first terminal, where the first pathway is
configured to accommodate a first wire; and a second pathway having a
second conductive cutter as a second terminal, where the second pathway
is configured to accommodate a second wire; where a conductive connection
is made between the first wire and the second wire through the inverter.

14. The IDC apparatus of claim 13, where the first pathway and the second
pathway are configured to accommodate both a splice connection and a butt
connection.

15. The IDC apparatus of claim 10, comprising: a first pathway having a
first pathway first conductive cutter and a first pathway second
conductive cutter, where the first pathway first conductive cutter is
configured as first terminal to accommodate a first wire in the first
pathway, and a first pathway second conductive cutter is configured as a
second terminal to accommodate a second wire in the first pathway; and
where a connection is made between the first wire in the first pathway
and the second wire in the first pathway through the inverter.

16. The IDC apparatus of claim 15, where the first pathway is configured
to accommodate both a splice connection and a butt connection.

17. The IDC apparatus of claim 15, comprising a second pathway having a
second pathway first conductive cutter and a second pathway second
conductive cutter, where the second pathway first conductive cutter is
configured as third terminal to accommodate a third wire in the second
pathway, and where a second pathway second conductive cutter is
configured as a fourth terminal to accommodate a fourth wire in the
second pathway; and where a connection is made between the third wire in
the second pathway and the fourth wire in the second pathway through the
inverter.

18. The IDC apparatus of claim 10, where the IDC apparatus is
environmentally sealed, and where at least one wire in a pathway of the
IDC apparatus is protected from environmental conditions.

19. The IDC apparatus of claim 10, where at least one wire can be removed
from the IDC apparatus and the IDC apparatus can be used with a different
wire.

20. The IDC apparatus of claim 10, where the inverter is a microinverter.

21. The IDC apparatus of claim 18, where the at least one wire is
accommodated by the pathway and the microinverter is wired with a
microinverter wire; and where a connection is made between the at least
one wire and the microinverter wire through the inverter.

[0002] Insulation displacement connector (IDC) technology was originally
developed in the telecommunications industry for making multiple
connections. IDC technology has been applied in many applications. For
example, IDC technology is used in butt connections and splicing of
electrical wires. In a butt connection, two wires are electrically
connected together. In splicing, a wire is electrically connected to a
trunk line. The IDC permits the connections to be made without a separate
insulation stripping step because the IDC cuts and displaces the wire
insulation with a sharpened conductor contact. Insulation piercing
technology differs from IDC technology in that instead of forcing the
wire into a sharpened connector, a piercing pointed stake is forced
through the insulation and into the conductor.

[0003] Conventionally, connections were made by stripping wires and
crimping or soldering connections. Stripping wires and crimping or
soldering connections is time consuming and problematic especially for
work taking place in the field. To avoid stripping, crimping, or
soldering connections, connections were made from one electrical device
to the next using a pig-tail wire with a factory installed connector
(pin) with an environmental seal. The factory installed connector may be
mated to a connector on the next electrical device. When the connection
is made, an environmental seal is established. In some cases, the
pig-tail may be connected to a trunk wire, which is subsequently
connected to the next device. The trunk wire may have factory installed
mating connectors at specific locations in the wire. Although factory
installed mating connectors provide convenient installation, the mating
connectors add considerable cost and lack flexibility since wire lengths
or positions between connectors on trunk wires are fixed. Furthermore,
mating connectors have been shown to have lower reliability than IDC
technology.

[0004] In a variant of the trunk wire with mating connectors, a flat
profile trunk line may utilize a factory installed connector with
insulation piercing barbs. The final connection to the trunk line is made
by piercing rather than pin based factory installed connectors. The flat
profile trunk line is typically proprietary. Using proprietary wires
limits options and availability, and also suffers from most of the same
cost concerns as the factory installed pig-tail and end connectors. Once
the specific piercing connector has been used to pierce a trunk line, the
insulation piercing connector can be removed and either the trunk wire
replaced or another device connected to the trunk wire at that point
using another piercing connector. However, the piercing connectors and
trunk wires must be in the same proprietary family of products. Again,
this restricts material selection and availability. Also, this piercing
connector does not provide the option of a butt connection. If a section
of trunk wire must be replaced, either the entire wire must be replaced
or a separate butt splice must be performed and environmentally sealed to
connect the new section of trunk line to the remaining trunk line.

[0005] Existing IDCs are inadequate for use in solar microinverter
connection applications. IDC technology is commonly intended for single
use and in applications where an environmental seal is required. For
example, removing the IDC connector exposes the wire's conductor to the
environment at the point where the insulation has been displaced. IDCs
that have been used in power line applications have a seal, but if the
IDC is removed and replaced by another IDC, the environmental seal is
generally not preserved. This is especially problematic in the solar
energy context because solar panels are typically located in outdoor
areas that are susceptible to environmental conditions. For example,
solar panels may be placed on the rooftops of residential homes or even
high rises, both of which may endure high winds, precipitation, freezing
temperatures, and freeze and thaw conditions.

[0006] Existing IDCs are designed for either wire to wire or printed
circuit board (PCB) to wire applications. PCB to wire IDCs are not
environmentally sealed. In the solar energy context, the trunk line and
component parts are connected to the microinverter. The connection with
the microinverter is an opportunity for sealant problems to occur due to
the insulation or the IDC environment being breached. Furthermore, the
mechanical nature of conventional IDCs makes a conventional IDC capable
of either a butt connection or a splice connection, but not both in the
same connector. Thus, in a situation where either a section of a trunk
wire is damaged and needs to be replaced or the end of a trunk wire
length and an additional length needs to be added, a combination of
several separate environmentally sealed connections would have to be
made. This has disadvantages of cost, time, and increased potential for
leakage as many environmental seals would need to be maintained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute
a part of the specification, illustrate various example systems, methods,
and other example embodiments of various aspects of the invention. It
will be appreciated that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes,
groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of
the boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that in
some examples one element may be designed as multiple elements or that
multiple elements may be designed as one element. In some examples, an
element shown as an internal component of another element may be
implemented as an external component and vice versa. Furthermore,
elements may not be drawn to scale.

[0008]FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of an apparatus including a Solar IDC
associated with an inverter.

[0009]FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of an apparatus including a Solar
IDC, with the cover of the Solar IDC removed, associated with an
inverter.

[0010] FIG. 2B illustrates a bottom view of a cover of a Solar IDC.

[0011]FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional view of an apparatus
including a Solar IDC, with the cover of the Solar IDC removed.

[0012]FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a cover of a Solar
IDC.

[0015]FIG. 5A illustrates additional detail of the interior of a Solar
IDC.

[0016]FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example wire for
use in conjunction with a cutter of a Solar IDC.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Example apparatus and methods provide a Solar insulation
displacement connector (IDC). The Solar IDC employs conductive cutters to
act as terminals to an inverter. Wires may be seated in pathways
containing cutters. Cutters are made of conductive materials (e.g.,
copper, silver, gold, nickel, brass). The cutters slice through the
insulation of a wire and expose the conductor of the wire. The wire is
held in place in the pathway such that the cutter stays in contact with
the conductor of the wire. Thus, an electrical connection is formed
between the cutter and the conductor of the wire. In addition to the
connection between the cutter and the conductor of the wire, there is a
connection between the cutter and the inverter. These connections cause
the Solar IDC to create electrical continuity between the inverter's
circuitry (e.g. printed circuit board) and the wires seated within the
Solar IDC.

[0018] The Solar IDC and an inverter may be fabricated as a single unit.
By fabricating the Solar IDC and the inverter together the number of post
manufacture connections can be limited to only those that are connected
in the field. This results in a reduction of connections that can lead to
breaches in the sealing of the Solar IDC and inverter because the Solar
IDC and the inverter do not need to be connected in the field. This is
useful in the solar energy context where connections made post
manufacture are typically done outdoors and are susceptible to
environmental conditions.

[0019] Once post manufacture connections are made in the field, the Solar
IDC is environmentally sealed. Environmental sealing is a barrier to
environmental conditions that may degrade the effectiveness of the Solar
IDC. Environmental conditions may include weather conditions (e.g., high
winds, precipitation, freezing conditions), contaminants (e.g., smog,
pollution), or terrain conditions. Terrain conditions are dependent on
the location of the solar system. For example, in the solar energy
context a solar system on a rooftop may encounter terrain conditions such
as roofing materials (e.g., paint, tar, roofing nails) that may interfere
with wires, the Solar IDC, or the inverter. A solar system located in a
field may have to contend with different terrain conditions (e.g.,
pollen, animals, overgrowth).

[0020] The environmental sealing of the Solar IDC is a natural consequence
of how the Solar IDC is formed. The Solar IDC's main body comprises two
components: a base and a cover. The cover of the Solar IDC has a cover
edge that fits over a base edge of the base of the Solar IDC. The cover
edge and the base edge may be made out of a rigid material (e.g., plastic
compounds, metal). The cover edge and the base edge form a dual barrier.
Even if an environmental condition were to penetrate the cover edge of
the cover, the Solar IDC would be protected by the base edge of the base.
The environmental seal is further bolstered by the closeness of fit
between the cover and the base. The fit may be enhanced with a flexible
sealing agent (e.g., gasket, gel, adhesive). The flexible sealing agent
may be reversible so that the cover of the Solar IDC can be removed from
the base.

[0021] Cutouts in the cover edge and the base edge allow wires to enter
and exit the Solar IDC. The cutouts may be fitted with grommets. The
grommets act as an additional barrier to keep environmental conditions
from affecting the Solar IDC. The grommets may vary in size allowing
different gauge wire to be used. For example, gauge 2 wire may be used
with grommet with a larger opening. For higher gauge wire, grommets with
smaller openings may be used. Additionally, grommets may have no openings
and thereby act as a cover. Grommets being used as covers may prevent
environmental conditions from affecting the Solar IDC when an opening in
the Solar IDC is not in use.

[0022] The interior of the Solar IDC contains a plurality of pathways. A
pathway creates a clearance through the Solar IDC for a wire, where the
wire consists of a conductor surrounded by an insulator. The wires may be
of different make or manufacture and are not limited to a specific
proprietary wire. The wires are held in place in the pathway with an
appropriate amount of force by pressure protrusions affixed to the cover
of the Solar IDC.

[0023] Cutters are located in the pathways. When a wire is held in place
in a pathway, the wire is also forced onto a cutter in that pathway. The
cutters are configured to displace the insulation of the wire and expose
the conductor of the wire. Because the cutters are made of conductive
materials, the cutters also act as terminals for the inverter. When the
wire is placed in the cutter and held there by the pressure protrusions,
the conductive cutter is held in contact with the conductor of the wire.
Therefore, the cutters of the Solar IDC act as terminals allowing the
wires within the Solar IDC to access the circuitry of the inverter.

[0024] In one embodiment, the Solar IDC has two pathways. Connections
between wires are made in a pathway. A pathway may be configured with a
pair of cutters. The cutter makes contact with the conductor of a wire.
The cutter may be designed to make contact with the conductor of the wire
on three sides. For example, the cutter may form a "U" shape, such that
when the wire is seated into the "U" shape the insulation is displaced
around roughly 75% of the wire. Alternatively, the cutter may form two
parallel lines to slice through the insulation on either side of the
wire. A cutter cuts through the insulation of the wire and makes contact
with the conductor. By making contact with the conductor of the wire, the
cutters act as terminals to the microinverter.

[0025] In one embodiment, the conductor of a first wire makes contact with
the first cutter in the pair of cutters located in a pathway. The
conductor of a second wire makes contact with the second cutter in the
pair of cutters located in the pathway. In this manner, the first wire
and the second wire are connected by the cutters because the cutters act
as terminals for the inverter. Because the Solar IDC is wired in
parallel, the type of connection (e.g. butt connection, splice
connection) between the wires is inconsequential.

[0026] Also unlike conventional IDCs, the Solar IDC can accommodate both a
butt connection and a splice connection. Specifically, the two pathways
in the Solar IDC may accommodate two connections. For example, a first
pathway may accommodate a butt connection in which two wires enter a
first pathway of the Solar IDC from opposing sides of the Solar IDC.
Pressure protrusions are located on the bottom of the cover of the Solar
IDC. The pressure protrusions may be located above the cutters to apply
adequate pressure on the wires into the cutters. A second pathway may
accommodate a trunk line and an additional wire to create a splice
connection. Thus, a first pathway may accommodate a splice connection and
a second pathway may accommodate a butt connection. While two connections
are described, more or fewer connections may be made in the Solar IDC
with more or fewer pathways and cutters.

[0027] In one embodiment, wire retention mechanisms (e.g., clamps, wire
retentions, grips) are used to apply pressure to the wire(s) in a pathway
to hold the wire(s) in place. When the wire retention mechanisms apply
pressure by way of mechanical force, the wire retention mechanisms
prevent the wire(s) from being warped (e.g., pulled, twisted, bent) once
the wire(s) are installed in a pathway of the Solar IDC.

[0028] The following includes definitions of selected terms employed
herein. The definitions include various examples and/or forms of
components that fall within the scope of a term and that may be used for
implementation. The examples are not intended to be limiting. Both
singular and plural forms of terms may be within the definitions.

[0029] References to "one embodiment", "an embodiment", "one example", "an
example", and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) or example(s) so
described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic,
property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment or
example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure,
characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated
use of the phrase "in one embodiment" does not necessarily refer to the
same embodiment, though it may.

[0030]FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus 100 that includes a Solar
insulation displacement connector (IDC) 110. The Solar IDC 110 is
configured to accommodate wires and allow the wires to make connections
within the Solar IDC 110. The wires may be associated with a solar
system. The apparatus 100 also includes an inverter 120. The inverter 120
may be a microinverter. The inverter 120 is configured to convert direct
current (DC) to alternating current (AC). The inverter may be solar
microinverter for converting DC from a solar panel to AC. The Solar IDC
110 and the inverter 120 may be fabricated as a single unit to reduce the
number of post manufacture connections to connections made in the field.

[0031]FIG. 2A illustrates a top view of an apparatus 200 including a
Solar IDC 110 with the cover 260 removed. The Solar IDC 110 comprises a
base 210. The base 210 contains blocks 233, 235, and 237 that define
pathways 243 and 247. Block 233 and block 235 define a first pathway 243.
Likewise, block 235 and block 237 define a second pathway 247. The blocks
233, 235, and 237 can be placed in the base 210 based on the gauge of the
wire being seated in the pathway. For example, if an application calls
for a lower gauge (larger diameter) wire, the blocks 233 and 235 may be
placed further apart to make the first pathway 243 wider. Alternatively,
if an application calls for a larger gauge (smaller diameter) wire, the
blocks 233 and 235 may be placed closer together to make the first
pathway 243 narrower.

[0032] The first pathway 243 and the second pathway 247 do not have to be
of equal width. The Solar IDC 110 may accommodate a plurality of varying
connections. Accordingly, the width of the first pathway 243 and the
second pathway 247 may be dependent on the type of the connection being
made in the pathway. Blocks 233, 235, and 237 are secured to the base
210. The blocks 233, 235, and 237 may be secured using fasteners (e.g.,
screws, nuts, bolts) or adhesive.

[0033] The pathways 243 and 247 include cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258.
The first pathway 243 has a first pathway first cutter 252 and a first
pathway second cutter 254. Similarly, the second pathway 247 has a second
pathway first cutter 256 and a second pathway second cutter 258. The
cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 may be placed in the pathways 243 and 247
based on the type of wire being used. Wires may be seated within a
pathway to create connections that interface with the inverter 120.

[0034] In one embodiment, the first pathway first cutter 252 and the first
pathway second cutter 254 in the first pathway 243 are wired to the
inverter 120 to make a connection in conjunction with the second pathway
first cutter 256 and the second pathway second cutter 258 in the second
pathway 247. For example, a first wire may be seated in the first pathway
243. The first pathway first cutter 252 and the first pathway second
cutter 254 cut through the insulation of the first wire and make contact
with the conductor of the first wire. Thus, the conductor of the first
wire uses the first pathway first cutter 252 and the first pathway second
cutter 254 as terminals to the inverter 120. A second wire is seated in
the second pathway 247. The second pathway first cutter 256 and the
second pathway second cutter 258 cut through the insulation of the second
wire and make contact with the conductor of the second wire. Thus, the
conductor of the second wire uses the second pathway first cutter 256 and
the second pathway second cutter 258 as terminals to the inverter 120. In
this manner, the first wire is connected to the second wire through the
inverter 120.

[0035] The first pathway first cutter 252 and the first pathway second
cutter 254 in the first pathway 243 are wired to the inverter 120 such
that two wires can be connected in the first pathway 243. For example, a
first wire may be seated in a first portion of the first pathway 243 such
that the first wire is cut by the first pathway first cutter 252. Thus,
the conductor of the first wire uses the first pathway first cutter 252
as a terminal to the inverter 120. A second wire may be seated in a
second portion of the first pathway 243 such that the second wire is cut
by the first pathway second cutter 254. The conductor of the second wire
uses the first pathway second cutter 254 as a terminal to the inverter
120. The second pathway first cutter 256 and the second pathway second
cutter 258 may be wired similarly to act as terminals for the inverter so
that a connection between two wires can be made in the second pathway
247. Thus, the Solar IDC 110 may be configured to accommodate two
connections (e.g., a butt connection, a splice connection) at the same
time.

[0036] In one embodiment, the first pathway 243 or the second pathway 247
may also accommodate a connection with a wire wired into the inverter
120. An inverter 120 has the inverter circuitry (e.g. printed circuit
board) that may operate in conjunction with a wire wired into the
inverter 120. Because the cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 act as terminals
to the inverter 120, a wire in the first pathway 243 or second pathway
247 may be connected with a wire wired into the inverter through the
cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258.

[0037] FIG. 2B illustrates a bottom view of a Solar IDC cover 260 that has
been removed. The Solar IDC cover 260 is configured with pressure
protrusions 262, 264, 266, and 268. The pressure protrusions are affixed
(e.g. epoxy, sealant, screws) to the Solar IDC cover 260. Alternatively,
the pressure protrusions 262, 264, 266, and 268 to the Solar IDC cover
260 may be fabricated as a single piece.

[0038] The pressure protrusions are configured to apply pressure to a wire
in a pathway, thereby forcing the wire to be seated on a cutter. The
pressure protrusions 262, 264, 266, 268 may be positioned directly over
the cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 (shown in FIG. 2A) causing a wire to
be pushed down on the cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 when the Solar IDC
cover 260 is fitted on the base 210. For example, pressure protrusion 262
may be positioned directly over the first pathway first cutter 252.
Pressure protrusion 264 may be positioned directly over the first pathway
second cutter 254. Thus, when a wire is placed in pathway 243 (shown in
FIG. 2A), pressure protrusions 262 and 264 push the wire on to the
cutters 252 and 254, respectively. Consequently, the insulation of the
wire is cut by the cutters 252 and 254 and the cutters 252 and 254 are
held in contact with the exposed conductor of the wire. Thereby improving
the ability of the cutters 252 and 254 to act as terminals for the
inverter 120 (shown in FIG. 2A).

[0039]FIG. 3A illustrates a cross-sectional view of apparatus 200
including a Solar IDC 110, with the cover 260 of the Solar IDC 110
removed, associated with an inverter 120. The base 210 of the Solar IDC
110 has a base edge 310 that extends perpendicularly from the base 210.
The base edge 310 may be made out of a rigid material (e.g., plastic
compounds, metal).

[0040]FIG. 3B illustrates a cross-sectional view of a cover 260 of a
Solar IDC 110. The Solar IDC cover 260 has a cover edge 370. The cover
edge 370 may be made out of a rigid material (e.g., plastic compounds,
metal). The base edge 310 and the cover edge 370 form a dual barrier.
Even if an environmental condition were to penetrate the cover edge 370,
the Solar IDC 210 would be protected by the base edge 310. Therefore, an
environmental condition would have to penetrate the cover edge 370 and
the base edge 310. The possibility of that occurring is reduced by the
close fit of the cover edge 370 and the base edge 310. The fit may be
enhanced with a flexible sealing agent (e.g., gasket, gel, adhesive). The
flexible sealing agent may be reversible so that the Solar IDC cover 260
can be removed from the base 210 of the Solar IDC 110.

[0041]FIG. 4A illustrates a Solar IDC 410. In one embodiment, the Solar
IDC 410 may be secured to the top surface of the inverter 120 with
fasteners (e.g., screws, nuts, bolts) or adhesive. The base edge 310 has
base cutouts 422, 424, 426, and 428. The base cutouts 422, 424, 426, and
428 provide clearance for wires entering and exiting the Solar IDC 110.

[0042] A wire seated in the first pathway 243 may enter the Solar IDC 210
through base cutout 422 and exit the Solar IDC 210 through base cutout
426. Likewise, a wire seated in the second pathway 247 may enter the base
210 of the Solar IDC 110 through base cutout 424 and exit the Solar IDC
110 through base cutout 428. One of ordinary skill in the art will
recognize that the size of the base cutouts 422, 424, 426, and 428 may be
dependent on the gauge of wire being used in conjunction with the Solar
IDC 110.

[0043] The base cutouts 422, 424, 426, and 428 may be fitted with grommets
to create an environmental barrier to prevent environmental contaminates
from entering the Solar IDC 110 through base cutouts 422, 424, 426, and
428. A grommet may be configured to create a seal between a base cutout
422, 424, 426, and 428 and the wire. Additionally, the base cutouts 422,
424, 426, and 428 may be configured with covers to prevent environmental
contaminates from entering the Solar IDC 110 when a base cutout 422, 424,
426, or 428 is not in use.

[0044] The Solar IDC 410 is formed with a plurality of ridges 430 and 440.
The area between the plurality of ridges 430 and 440 passes through the
Solar IDC 410. The Solar IDC 410 has a plurality of ridges 430 in the
first pathway 243 and a plurality of ridges 440 in the second pathway
247. The area between the plurality of ridges 430 and 440 is comprised of
openings. The Solar IDC 410 is affixed to the inverter 120 to allow the
cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 access from the interior of the inverter
120 through the openings into the interior of the Solar IDC 410.

[0045] The first pathway 243 includes the first pathway first cutter 252
and the first pathway second cutter 254. The second pathway 247 includes
the second pathway first cutter 256 and the second pathway second cutter
258. The first pathway first cutter 252 and the first pathway second
cutter 254 are configured to protrude through the openings in ridges 430.
The cutters 252 and 254 may be strategically placed through the openings
in ridges 430 based at least in part on the gauge of the wire, the length
of the wire, or type of connection. Similarly, the second pathway first
cutter 256 and the second pathway second cutter 258 may be configured to
protrude through the openings of ridges 440.

[0046]FIG. 4B illustrates a bottom view of a Solar IDC cover 260 that has
been removed. The cover edge 370 of the Solar IDC cover 260 has cover
cutouts 482, 484, 486, and 488. The cover cutouts 482, 484, 486, and 488
provide clearance for wires entering and exiting the Solar IDC 210 when
the Solar IDC cover 260 is fitted on the Solar IDC 210. The cover cutouts
482, 484, 486, and 488 are aligned with the base cutouts 422, 424, 426,
and 428. For example, when the Solar IDC cover 260 is on the base 210 of
the Solar IDC 110, cover cutout 482 may be aligned with base cutout 422,
and cover cutout 386 may be aligned with base cutout 426. Thus, when the
Solar IDC cover 260 is placed on the base 210 of the Solar IDC 110, a
wire may pass through the first pathway 243 through base cutouts 422 and
426 and cover cutouts 482 and 486. Likewise, cover cutout 484 may be
aligned with base cutout 424, and cover cutout 488 may be aligned with
base cutout 428. Thus, when the Solar IDC cover 260 is placed on the base
210 of the Solar IDC 110, a wire may pass through the second pathway 247
through base cutouts 424 and 428 and cover cutouts 484 and 488.

[0047] The cover cutouts 482, 484, 486, and 488 may be fitted with
grommets to create an environmental barrier to prevent environmental
contaminates from entering the Solar IDC 210. A grommet may be configured
to create a seal between a cover cutout 482, 484, 486, and 488 and the
wire. Additionally, the cover cutouts 482, 484, 486, and 488 may be
configured with covers to prevent environmental contaminates from
entering the Solar IDC 210 when a base cutout 422, 424, 426, or 428 is
not in use. Alternatively, a grommet may be configured to work with both
a base cutout and a cover cutout.

[0048]FIG. 5A illustrates additional detail for the interior of a Solar
IDC. Cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 act as terminals for the inverter 120
when in contact with the conductor of a wire. The cutters 252, 254, 256,
and 258 may be wired to the components of the inverter 120. Thus, the
cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 may be fabricated with the inverter 120
such that the cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 extend through the top of
the inverter 120. In addition to extending through the top of the
inverter 120, the cutters 252, 254, 256, and 258 may extend through the
understructure 410 (shown in FIG. 4) of the Solar IDC 110.

[0049]FIG. 5B illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example wire 560
for use in conjunction with a cutter 550 of a Solar IDC. The wire 560
includes insulation 563 and conductor 567. The wire 560 is placed in the
cutter 550. The cutter 550 is constructed of a conductive metal (e.g.,
silver, gold, brass, copper, zinc, nickel). The edges of the cutter 550
may be sharpened facilitate cutting the insulation 563 of the wire 560.
When the wire 560 is pushed into the in the cutter 550 it is sliced open
displacing the insulation 563. The displaced insulation 563 exposes the
conductor 567 of the wire 560. By exposing the conductor 567 of the wire
560, the cutter 550 is able to make contact with the conductive cutter
550. In addition to cutting the insulation 563 of the wire 560, the
cutter 550 acts as a terminal for and inverter 120 (shown in FIG. 5A)
since the cutter 550 is conductive.

[0050] While example apparatus have been illustrated by describing
examples, and while the examples have been described in considerable
detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any
way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. It is, of
course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of
components or methodologies for purposes of describing the systems,
methods, and so on described herein. Therefore, the invention is not
limited to the specific details, the representative apparatus, and
illustrative examples shown and described. Thus, this application is
intended to embrace alterations, modifications, and variations that fall
within the scope of the appended claims.

[0051] To the extent that the term "includes" or "including" is employed
in the detailed description or the claims, it is intended to be inclusive
in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as that term is interpreted
when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

[0052] To the extent that the term "or" is employed in the detailed
description or claims (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean "A or B or
both". When the applicants intend to indicate "only A or B but not both"
then the term "only A or B but not both" will be employed. Thus, use of
the term "or" herein is the inclusive, and not the exclusive use. See,
Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage 624 (2d. Ed. 1995).

[0053] To the extent that the phrase "one or more of, A, B, and C" is
employed herein, (e.g., a data store configured to store one or more of,
A, B, and C) it is intended to convey the set of possibilities A, B, C,
AB, AC, BC, and/or ABC (e.g., the data store may store only A, only B,
only C, A&B, A&C, B&C, and/or A&B&C). It is not intended to require one
of A, one of B, and one of C. When the applicants intend to indicate "at
least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C", then the
phrasing "at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C"
will be employed.

Patent applications by eQED, LLC

Patent applications in class Plural contacts, each formed by slot between pair of fingers

Patent applications in all subclasses Plural contacts, each formed by slot between pair of fingers